By: Kennedy Henderson, Addis Jemari’s Teen Board President
When I was given with the opportunity to go to Ethiopia with Addis Jemari, I jumped at it. The fact that I was about to travel to a third world country did not hit me until I was next to my mom on the plane to Addis Ababa!
There were many eye-opening experiences, however, there was one in particular that has stuck with me. One day after working at the Family Empowerment Center, we traveled to Korah. This area of Addis Ababa is where the city dump lies and where poverty is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It is where some people build homes within and on the outskirts of the dump so they have a place to lay their heads at night. Others live in shacks made of whatever materials they can find, such as wood, tin roofing and tarps.
Once we arrived to Korah, we went to a housing structure, which in American standards, is just a room. It had one light bulb, one window, benches and was filled with about 22 children. There we met Shimelis. Shimelis tutors this group of students before school at 6:30 am and after they return home from school in the afternoons. He also offers them weekend tutoring. One of the students we met was 21 years-old and in 9th grade. However, twice a day, he attends tutoring, in addition to school, in hopes of a better life. One of the other sweet girls we met wants to be a doctor when she grows up. It was so cool to hear about what all the students wanted to be when they grew up, and I shared with them my future dreams, too.
Addis Jemari is also fortunate to have Shimelis’ gift of tutoring on the weekends at the Family Empowerment Center. where he helps our FEP children learn English. Once you reach 7th grade in Ethiopia, all classes are taught in English. Many children struggle with this since they have not had previous opportunities to learn English, causing school to become very difficult.
As a high schooler, it is hard to stay positive in school, and I find myself complaining and groaning about school on a daily basis. If I had a dime for every time my parents, or an adult, has told me that I am beyond lucky to have an education, I would be rich! I have never believed this, however, but seeing what these children do to receive an education opened my eyes. An education is the only way for these children to have a chance breaking the cycle of generational poverty and securing a job where they can earn fair wages and provide for a family.
As cliché as it sounds visiting this little schoolroom, it made me realize how lucky I am. Being told these things doesn’t always make an impact, but being able to see them first-hand definitely did. I still struggle with school, it is still hard sometimes to stay focused knowing that I am so close to graduating. However, I have realized that it is a privilege that I am blessed to have been given. Meeting these students that day in Korah made an impact that I won’t soon forget.
